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The Epistle reading on the 24th Sunday after Pentecost came from Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians, chapter 2, verses 14 to 22. “Therefore, remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh – who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands – that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one” – here, he refers to the chosen Israelite people, who had received the promise, and to the rest of the pagan world. The Savior united all things into one through His Blood. “Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”

I’d like to explore the Lord’s ability to reconcile. In the Old Testament prophecies, the Lord is prefigured as a shepherd and comes to gather His scattered flock (cf. Ezekiel 37:24, Matthew 15:24). Even Isaiah says how the people were walking like sheep without a shepherd, each on his own path (cf. Isaiah 53:6), until the Lord came and called them to Himself (cf. John 10:27).

In general, man’s vocation is to be a peacemaker. Saint Maximus the Confessor says that man is a link between the Creator and creation, the only such link. Man is made to reconcile all things, to link together and unite all things. The Lord revealed this par excellence. Saint Paul speaks about the unity between Jews and Gentiles, which is evident in the Church.

But the Lord reconciled God with man, in general. Elder Zacharias Zacharou says: “Christ justified God before mankind through His great love. And Christ justified mankind before God, insofar as He gave us a perfect example of obedience. So much did He love God the Father and all mankind, that He did not spare His own life, and He did this without anyone being able to convict Him of sin.” He, the God-Man, showed us to what measures man can attain. He justified the creation of man. He showed how man was created in the image of God. Therefore, He shows God a true Man, and He showed mankind how God is, “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3).

We too are called to make peace wherever we are, at our level. In our family, for example. It’s a big mistake to think that the difficult part, the most important part in a relationship lasts only until marriage, like in love stories. In fact, the important and difficult part begins only after marriage. We live with the wrong impression that beautiful things should come naturally, which is not true at all. The closest model is a plant which grows. And no plant grows by itself, except for weeds. If you want a useful plant, you need to care for it. It is the same with any good and nice thing on earth, especially in interpersonal relationships. We are all called to this work of reconciliation: between us and God, and among ourselves. Usually, mothers do this the best. They play the role of mediator, of peacemaker.

Saint Paul says how the Lord reconciled us: “you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ”; “that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.” So, any reconciliation is possible only through sacrifice. We should be prepared to shed blood and bear our cross. It will not be easy, because the evil one also works. But this is our calling and it’s good for us to become mature, not children who await only milk and honey. But we should become adults who follow Christ, meaning we follow Him in deed. He urges us to renounce our own righteousness, out of love for Him, so that we can make peace and be His disciples. This is why He says: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). This is how we become like Him. But it doesn’t come by itself. We shed blood, tears, and sweat in abundance in order to achieve this reconciliation.